It's easy to see why not everyone loves this film. It's just not all that funny. Or exciting. Or inspiring. Worst of all, it doesn't leave you with any sense of accomplishment or insight.
It works, however, if you can relate to this movie as an adult who has ever gone through a period of your life where you just wanted to go back to a simpler time.
I was able to relate in particular because like Leigh in the movie I actually went back to being a lifeguard in my 20s after graduating from college and not really knowing what to do with myself. And like Leigh, things didn't really work out entirely as I planned them to. Was it a good move? I'm a happy I did it? Did I learn anything from it? Hard to say really.
Similarly you're not going to find a lot of definitive answers in this movie as to whether the heroine makes choices that are right or wrong. But if you've had a similar experience - you'll feel like she's a friend.
It works, however, if you can relate to this movie as an adult who has ever gone through a period of your life where you just wanted to go back to a simpler time.
I was able to relate in particular because like Leigh in the movie I actually went back to being a lifeguard in my 20s after graduating from college and not really knowing what to do with myself. And like Leigh, things didn't really work out entirely as I planned them to. Was it a good move? I'm a happy I did it? Did I learn anything from it? Hard to say really.
Similarly you're not going to find a lot of definitive answers in this movie as to whether the heroine makes choices that are right or wrong. But if you've had a similar experience - you'll feel like she's a friend.